Bring It On (film)

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Bring It On is a 2000 American teen comedy about two high school cheerleading teams competing for a national title. Directed by Peyton Reed in his feature debut and written by Jessica Bendinger, the film stars Kirsten Dunst as Torrance Shipman, the captain of the San Diego Toros, with Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union playing key teammates and their rivals, the East Compton Clovers.

Plot in brief
Torrance becomes team captain after the previous captain graduates. When her new teammate Missy Pantone joins, she accuses the Toros of stealing the Clovers’ routines. Isis, the Clovers’ captain, reveals that the Toros copied the rival routines. The Clovers, who don’t have funds to compete in the nationals, vow to beat the Toros. The Toros face leadership challenges, a difficult choreographer, and personal drama, including Torrance’s romance with Cliff and her breakup with Aaron. The teams raise money and compete at regionals and nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. In the end, the Clovers win and the Toros finish second, but both teams gain respect and learn from each other.

Production, release and reception
Budget was about $11 million. Filming took place in the San Diego area and at San Diego State University. Bring It On opened in theaters on August 25, 2000, and runs 99 minutes. It grossed roughly $90 million worldwide and helped the film become a cult favorite. The soundtrack, Music from the Motion Picture, came out on August 22, 2000, featuring artists like Blaque and a cover of Mickey by B*Witched. Critics were mixed but generally positive, praising Kirsten Dunst’s performance. Rotten Tomatoes shows around 65% positive; Metacritic around 52. Ebert initially disliked it but later called it the “Citizen Kane of cheerleader movies” for its energy and satirical elements. The film is noted for addressing issues such as cultural appropriation, class, and race, along with feminist themes. It spawned several sequels and a TV film, but none feature the original cast.

Sequels and stage adaptation
Bring It On led to six direct-to-video sequels—Bring It On Again (2004), Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007), Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009), Bring It On: Worldwide Cheersmack (2017)—and a TV film, Cheer or Die (2022). None of these include the original cast or crew. A stage musical premiered in 2011 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, with a later Broadway run in 2012. The musical features music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, lyrics by Amanda Green, and a book by Jeff Whitty, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler.

Cast and notable details
Kirsten Dunst plays Torrance Shipman, the Toros’ captain. Eliza Dushku plays Missy Pantone, a transfer student who joins the team. Gabrielle Union stars as Isis, the Clovers’ captain. The film also introduced audiences to a blend of high-energy cheer routines and witty social satire, contributing to its lasting appeal.

Bottom line
Bring It On combined fun, dancing, and sharp humor with timely discussions about culture, privilege, and teamwork. It launched a franchise and a stage adaptation, making it a notable entry in teen comedy history.